12. UtahNon-conference lineup: at Brigham Young, vs. Northern Illinois, vs. Illinois StateToughest stretch: Oct. 19 vs. Arizona State, Oct. 26 vs. Cal, Nov. 2 at WashingtonMisses: Stanford and OregonComment: Utes benefit from the switch in cross-division rotations, dodging two North heavyweights. They took the arduous road to the South title last season. In 2019, the path is greased. That said, the non-conference lineup will be an issue if they sneak into the playoff conversation.

11. ArizonaNon-conference lineup: at Hawaii, vs, Northern Arizona, vs. Texas TechToughest stretch: Oct. 12 vs. Washington, Oct. 19 at USC, Oct. 26 at StanfordMisses: Washington State and CalComment: Nice to see a Power Five opponent back on the schedule (first time since 2012). Combine the non-conference dates with UCLA and Colorado as the openers for Pac-12 play, and the Wildcats could be 5-0 when Washington pays a visit.

10. Arizona StateNon-conference lineup: vs. Kent State, vs. Sacramento State, at Michigan StateToughest stretch: Oct. 12 vs. Washington State, Oct. 19 at Utah, Oct. 26 at UCLAMisses: Stanford and WashingtonComment: Sun Devils get a break this year after the grueling ’18 lineup. In addition to what’s shown above, their only road trip in the final month is Oregon State. If they’re in the South race when November arrives — and that could require a win in Salt Lake City — the schedule tilts in their favor.

8. Washington StateNon-conference lineup: vs. New Mexico State, vs. Northern Colorado, at HoustonToughest stretch: Nov. 29 at Washington. That is enough. That is all.Misses: USC and ArizonaComment: The Cougars don’t face any dastardly stretches, don’t play back-to-back roadies and don’t have any Thursday/Friday conference games. But their ceiling is limited if they can’t win the Apple Cup, unless they’re unbeaten when they head across the state.

7. Oregon StateNon-conference lineup: vs. Oklahoma State, at Hawaii, vs. Cal PolyToughest stretch: Nov. 8 vs. Washington, Nov. 16 vs. Arizona State, Nov. 23 at Washington State, Nov. 30 at OregonMisses: Colorado and USCComment: Nice to see a Power Five opponent visiting Corvallis, and the Beavers return the date to open the 2020 season. Their toughest games are at home (Stanford, Utah, Washington) or a short drive down the highway. As was the case in ’18, November is unforgiving.

6. CalNon-conference lineup: vs. UC Davis, vs. North Texas, at MississippiToughest stretch: Sept. 21 at Ole Miss, Sept. 27 vs. Arizona State, Oct. 5 at OregonMisses: Arizona and ColoradoComment: Bears have a difficult November (Stanford, WSU and the L.A. schools), but I selected the late-Sept. stretch as their toughest because of the long trip to Oxford, followed by a Friday date and the roadie to Autzen. Also, don’t sleep on North Texas, which won nine games last year.

5. ColoradoNon-conference lineup: vs. Colorado State (Denver), vs. Nebraska, vs. Air ForceToughest stretch: Oct. 11 at Oregon, Oct. 19 at Washington State, Oct. 25 vs USCMisses: Oregon State and CalComment: Not sure what to make of the non-conference portion — it could prove sneaky-tough or pleasantly soft (depending largely on Nebraska’s state of existence). For anyone else, missing Oregon State would be viewed as a disadvantage. For the Buffs, it means no nightmares.

4. OregonNon-conference lineup: vs. Auburn (Arlington), vs. Nevada, vs MontanaToughest stretch: Oct. 19 at Washington, Oct. 26 vs. Washington State, Nov. 2 at USCMisses: UCLA and UtahComment: The Ducks take the assignment UW had last year, opening in a non-neutral site against Auburn. (One key difference: The Tigers will have a new quarterback.) Otherwise, it’s not a soul-crushing schedule: No back-to-back roadies, two well-placed byes and Colorado at home as the Friday night date.

3. UCLANon-conference lineup: at Cincinnati, vs. San Diego State, vs. OklahomaToughest stretch: Nov. 16 at Utah, Nov. 23 at USC, Nov. 30 vs. CalMisses: Washington and OregonComment: The Bruins have a favorable cross-division schedule, missing two teams they want to miss, but it’s more than offset by the opening three weeks. Cincinnati was 11-2 last season, and the Sooners are the Sooners. When SDSU is your most manageable non-conference game, by far, the lineup is just this side of brutal.

2. USCNon-conference lineup: vs. Fresno State, at Brigham Young, at Notre DameToughest stretch: Sept. 7 vs. Stanford, Sept. 14 at BYU, Sept. 20 vs. Utah, Sept. 28 at WashingtonMisses: Washington State and Oregon StateComment: The Huskies and Ducks are back on the schedule, which makes for choice viewing but pushes the degree-of-difficulty well past daunting. And the schedule tilts heavily to September, which raises the specter of a rough start … and mid-season coaching change.

1. StanfordNon-conference lineup: vs. Northwestern, at UCF, vs. Notre DameToughest stretch: Aug. 31: vs. Northwestern, Sept. 7 at USC, Sept. 14 at UCF, Sept. 21 vs. OregonMisses: Arizona State and UtahComment: If not for the misses (especially Utah), this would qualify as perhaps the toughest schedule for any Pac-12 team in the division era. Put it like this: Stanford’s ‘easiest’ non-conference opponent is a nine-game, Big Ten division winner that beat Utah in the Holiday Bowl (and beat Stanford in the 2015 opener).

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